What Is Vibe Shopping?

Vibe shopping is an emerging AI approach to digital commerce that focuses on shoppers buying based on their ‘vibe’ rather than specifics. Vibe here refers to a general direction (this could be interpreted as low intent shopping). Other ways to describe ‘vibe’ could be

• Mood
• Feeling
• Aesthetic
• Trend

Searching this way challenges the traditional functional shopping based on specifications or specific keywords, brand or product names.

Vibe shopping merges inspiration, search, comparison and purchasing into one smooth flow. Rather than the elements of the buying journey being separate and regimented, vibe shopping encourages shoppers to enter a ‘flow state’ and let all elements of the process naturally lead into one another.

Key Elements of Vibe Shopping

Emotion-led Discovery

Vibe shopping means shoppers are using more general terms to search based on their moods as opposed to specific products in mind. This could mean rather than typing:

‘Pink spaghetti strap dress’

They might search:

‘Cute beach summer look’ 

Rather than going in with a specific outcome in mind, more trust is placed in AI. AI curation is given a broad prompt, and then will create items and looks that fit the mood that is searched for.

Use Of Emoji

Emotion led discovery can be easily encapsulated with emojis. Rather than using keywords, shoppers want to search in the same way they text and speak: with emojis. The intent behind emojis is not always literal, but AI machines should be trained to interpret the meaning behind emojis to ensure that customers find the results they are looking for. 



Frictionless Flow

Vibe shopping removes the fragmented shopping tunnel consisting of:

• Search
• Compare
• Reviews
• Checkout

Instead creating one smooth experience where the vibe leads the way, and the customer isn’t knocked out of their ‘flow state’. There are no distractions or change of directions, instead the mood carries the shopper through the journey. 

Context Awareness

The continuous mood relies on AI and LLM’s interpreting behavioral signals such as:

• Browsing patterns
• Local weather
• Local holidays
• Current trends

In order to provide shoppers with the vibe they are looking for. A person searching for a certain look in Australia in July will be looking for something different than someone searching for a look in the USA in July. 

Personalization is key here, as AI will need to interpret vague, context-dependent queries in order to source products. Understanding past user behavior will help to inform their likes and dislikes, resulting in higher customer satisfaction and allowing them to enjoy their vibe shopping experience. 

Why Is Vibe Shopping Growing In Popularity?

Decision Fatigue

Shoppers are becoming overwhelmed with the amount of options available to them online. With hugely crowded ecommerce markets, vibe shopping reduces the task of sifting through everything that is available.

Instead, vibe shopping uses the power of AI to present the best personalized options to shoppers based on their personal preferences. The job of endless scrolling is reduced, as the AI understands their ‘vibe’ and shows them results based on this.

Social Commerce

Vibe shopping is linked with social commerce, as platforms such as TikTok and Instagram act as inspirational and often purchasing hubs. This is because consumers prefer content that feels relatable and verified by influencers and user generated content as opposed to programmed and orchestrated ads. 

Instagram, Tiktok and Pinterest are leading the way when it comes to vibe shopping. The vibes that will be searched will mostly be inspired by social media. Viral content on TikTok or Instagram creates emotional connections that drive purchasing. The trend “#TikTokMadeMeBuyIt” is an example of this. 

Mindful Consumption

Shoppers are being more conscious about what they are spending money on. Vibe shopping allows shoppers to purchase depending on desired ‘vibe’ or ‘mood’, less based on purely impulse shopping. 

Where Will Vibe Shopping Go From Here?

Vibe shopping is set to continue to grow in popularity. With more shoppers looking for new ways to shop that feel more integrated with the way they usually spend time online. This non-linear form of product discovery uses AI to offer personalized experiences in the most natural way for shoppers. With the rise of emoji search and the development of AI, it makes sense that vibe shopping will continue to rise.